175
‘ To preserve eggs fresh, they are to be smeared over with but-ter, mutton suet, or lard, immediately on being taken from thenest; but the vivifying speck is thereby destroyed. This germis presumed to be itself the principal cause of the corruption ofthe egg ; for those laid by hens which have had no communica-tion with the cock, have kept sound for several months withoutbeing any way smeared: the evaporation proceeded through thepores of the shell, the yolk became somewhat thickened, and thewhite part was considerably diminished. —
‘ While a turkey sells for four or five shillings, the price of ahen is only one shilling and sixpence ; chickens nearly half asmuch, and eggs about fourpence per dozen.—( Report for Naimend Moray, p. 33 5, et seq.)
VI. The V/Est Highlands.
- 1. Argyleshire.
1. The Cattle of this county have been described in the 14thChapter, under the denomination of the West Highland breed.The chief object of the breeders, is to rear them for the southernmarkets. In the district of Kintyre, the dairy is more attendedto than rearing.
2. Sheep. —These are chiefly of the Black-faced kindthoughthere still remains a good many of the ancient breed, which theReporter thinks, probably with good reason, might have been somuch improved with proper attention, as to have become a very-suitable stock.
3. Many of the Horses of this county are of a size well adapt-ed to the work they have to perform, where attention has beenpaid to the improvement of the native breed. But in other parts,they are too small and weak for a two-horse plough, and havebeen crossed with stallions from the Low country.
Swine abound most in the district of Kintyre. They are ge-nerally of a small, dunnish-white breed, with erect ears. Thesmall black Chinese are much approved of. There is only onerabbit-warren in the county. Poultry, pigeons, and bees, are notnumerous. Of goats, there were about 4500 at the date of theCounty Report. Their number was much greater before the in-troduction of sheep.
2. Inverness-shire.
1. Cattle. —The best stocks of this county are similar to thecattle of Argyleshire in every respect—‘ As to the manage-
'qual to fiva given dry in the natural state; that they prefer boiled grain to raw;that they discover no preference to barley, oats, or wheat; that they prefer hi-ther of these to rye: that a hen at large will find the half of her subsistence*in worms, insects, and grass, in which situation one bushel will maintain herIhcough the year.